5 Terrifying Ghost Sightings Caught on Camera

I love a good ghost story, and let’s be real, a big part of the fun is the thrill of the unexplained. There’s something undeniable about that little rush of adrenaline you get when you hear about something truly strange. I remember when I was a kid, hearing about ghosts and haunted places always captured my imagination. The idea that something unseen could be just around the corner was captivating. Like many of you, I grew up watching shows dedicated to the paranormal and unexplained mysteries. These shows always held a special place for me. Anyway, speaking of ghosts and hauntings, here are some of the most terrifying ghost sightings ever to be caught on camera.

1. The Ghost of Alcatraz

I’ve been to Alcatraz, and I’ll tell you firsthand: that place is a creep show. The most memorable part of my tour was when they led us to where the solitary confinement cells were. I actually went inside one and sat down. I literally sat there for like 3 seconds before I was so creeped out I had to leave! The door wasn't even closed; it was just too freaky.

But check this out, Siler Walsh, a teaching assistant from the UK. She took a picture of the visitation block window. Let’s just take a look at that photo.

yep, there’s a woman there. You can see her hair, you can see she’s wearing a hat, and you can even see her face. She seems to be dressed like someone from a different era. I wonder what her story could be. It's probably someone who had a loved one locked away in Alcatraz and visited often. Then she died, but her spirit still visits the prison, looking for her loved one… for all of eternity. You gotta add that one line after every single ghost story, right? It’s never like, "She died, but she still haunts her house for another 10 years." That’s a lot less creepy and dramatic.

2. The Ghost of Hampton Court

I actually remember seeing this story on CNN when it was first reported, and I thought it was so cool because I never thought CNN would report on a ghost story! Hampton Court was owned by Henry VIII in 1528 and is said to be haunted by the king, along with his wives, Jane Seymour and Catherine Howard. In 2003, security staff were alerted when a pair of heavy wooden doors burst open. The security staff raced to check the doors, only to find nothing there. It was only when they later inspected the CCTV cameras that they discovered a mysterious figure draped in a cloak, basically dressed like Shakespeare, arriving at the doorway shortly before they arrived. This is crazy because, in that CCTV footage, the ghost is just walking and opening a door!

3. The Hooded Figure at Ye Old Man and Scythe Pub

Ye Old Man and Scythe in Bolton dates back to 1251 and is set to be haunted by the seventh Earl of Derby, James Stanley. Check this out: crazy footage shows that the lights are starting to flicker at the pub, and then a hooded figure appears near the bar. This is during the night. When manager Toby Darly arrived the next morning, he saw a glass smashed on the floor, so he checked the security camera. That’s when he spotted the shadowy figure and found that the camera had mysteriously stopped recording at 6:18 a.m.

4. The Drunk Ghost at Carlisle Castle Hotel Bar

Security footage from the Carlisle Castle Hotel bar captured a shadowy figure, the presumed ghost, in action. This entity wasn't just flickering lights; it was engaging in serious vandalism. It was seen throwing expensive bottles of wine around the bar area. The climax of the incident involved the entity throwing a glass off the counter directly in front of a waitress, causing understandable chaos and scaring everyone present. This was clearly a ghost determined to make its presence known through expensive and dramatic destruction!

5. The Ghost Princess of Lee’s Castle

I’ve always found child ghosts to be the absolute creepiest. Lee’s Castle is reportedly haunted by one such spirit: a tragic 13-month-old princess. This girl, believed to have been a daughter of Henry VIII, is said to have died from a head wound sustained while playing in her bedroom. The haunting was captured when an overnight camera was set up in the castle. The chilling footage revealed an apparition of a little child with dark hair. It appears to be squatting and then slowly, deliberately, stands up. Seriously, that image is the stuff of pure nightmare fuel. Imagine being lost in that castle at night and encountering that figure! It hits that classic nightmare scenario where you stumble upon a sobbing little girl, only for her to look up with a "messed up" face and start chasing you. Worst nightmare ever. Let me know your thoughts on all those hauntings! Do you believe that they are real?